Towline reel

ABSTRACT

A towline reel assembly having a cable wound on the reel, is to be removably connected to a receiver mounted to a towing vehicle. The reel is pivotally wound to the tubular hitch to allow pivotal movement in the vertical plane. A latch is provided to latch the reel at a selected pivotal position. The reel is further mounted to the hitch to allow pivotal movement in horizontal plane. A cable cover is positioned to enclose the cable wound on the reel. This cable cover has a slit through which a free end of the towline cable is extended.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a towline reel that can be removably connected to a conventional Class III receiver hitch of a towing vehicle. A cable is wound on the reel and can be unwound to a length for enabling a user to attach the cable to a vehicle, for example, to be towed. The towline reel is then locked in place, and the first vehicle may be driven forward to tow the second vehicle behind it.

[0002] Towline reels for attachment to a vehicle hitch are known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,566,740 to Forrest and U.S. Pat. No. 5,350,186 to Hull, et al.

[0003] The present invention incorporates features which are not recognized by these known towline reels. A cable reel is provided according to the present invention which can be pivoted in a vertical plane with respect to the vehicle hitch, from a lower tailgate access position to a middle pulling position and then to an upper transporting position. Further, the reel assembly, according to the present invention, can be pivoted, with respect to the vehicle hitch, in a horizontal plane to allow the reel to be lined up with the vehicle being towed, and further, the present invention includes a cable cover on which the towing cable can be wrapped so that the cable does not pinch into the wound cable already wound on the reel when towing another vehicle.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention includes a towline reel assembly mounted to a tubular hitch which is removably connected to a receiver mounted to a towing vehicle. The reel assembly includes a rotatable reel having a hub. A towline cable is wound on the hub. An assembly is provided for pivotally mounting the reel to the tubular hitch for pivotal movement of the reel with respect to the tubular hitch in the vertical plane, and further includes a latch for latching the reel at a selected pivotal position.

[0005] The towline reel according to the present invention further includes a locking means for locking the reel at a selected rotated position. This towline reel further includes a tubular hitch which has been divided into two members and the two members connected together with an elongate plate having one end fixedly secured one member and the other end pivotally secured to the other member to allow pivotal movement of the two members with respect to one another in a horizontal plane.

[0006] Finally, a cable cover is provided which is positioned to enclose the cable wound on the hub of the reel. This cable cover includes a slit extending through the cable cover and positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable cover. A free end of the towline cable is extended through this slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0008]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a cable reel of the present invention with all subassemblies assembled together;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a frame subassembly for the cable reel shown in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a left hand view of the frame subassembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the frame subassembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a detail view of a frame member taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the frame subassembly shown in FIG. 2;

[0014]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a reel subassembly shown in FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a right side view of the reel subassembly shown in FIG. 7 with a cable cover removed for clarity;

[0016]FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a cable cover to be installed in the interior of the reel shown in FIG. 8;

[0017]FIG. 10 is a left side view of the cable cover shown in FIG. 9;

[0018]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the reel subassembly taken along the line 11-11 shown in FIG. 8 with a cable and cable cover installed;

[0019]FIG. 12 is a plan view of a cylindrical reel shaft shown in FIG. 1 FIG. 13 is a left side view of the reel shaft shown in FIG. 12;

[0020]FIG. 14 is an elevational view of a cable that can be wound on a reel as shown in FIG. 11;

[0021]FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a rotating reel locking subassembly as shown in FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 16 is a right side view of the rotating reel locking subassembly as shown in FIG. 15;

[0023]FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the rotating reel locking subassembly as shown in FIG. 15;

[0024]FIG. 18 is a rear elevational view of the rotating reel locking subassembly shown in FIG. 17;

[0025]FIG. 19 is an elevational view of a reel lock-up subassembly as shown in FIG. 1;

[0026]FIG. 20 is an enlarged right side view of the reel lock-up subassembly as shown in FIG. 19;

[0027]FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the reel lock-up subassembly as shown in FIG. 19; and

[0028]FIG. 22 is a detail schematic view of a coil spring used with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0029] A fully assembled elevational view of a towline reel assembly 10 is shown in FIG. 1 with the major subassemblies identified: frame subassembly 12, reel subassembly 14, rotating reel locking subassembly 16, trailer hitch subassembly 18, and reel latch subassembly 20. Each of these subassemblies will be described in the following descriptions.

[0030] The frame subassembly 12 is shown in FIGS. 1-6. Frame subassembly 12 includes a right reel arm 22 and left reel arm 24 spaced apart as shown in FIG. 2. An extension plate 25 is welded to an end of right reel arm 22, as shown in FIG. 4. Similarly, an extension plate 27 is welded to an end of left arm 24, as shown in FIG. 5. A reel spacer 26, having a rectangular channel shape, is fixedly connected between plates 25 and 27, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The reel spacer 26 is positioned to be slightly rotated with respect to the longitudinal axes of right reel arm 22 and left reel arm 24, as shown in FIG. 5.

[0031] The plate 25 is provided with a bolt hole 29 and plate 27 is provided with a corresponding, coaxially aligned bolt hole 31 for receiving a locking bolt 37 for mounting rotating reel locking assembly 16 to frame subassembly 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] A lock pin 23 is fixedly secured to plate 27 as shown in FIG. 5. The lock pin 23 is mounted orthogonal to plate 27 and extends outwardly.

[0033] As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, a pair of hitch assembly flanges 30 are fixedly connected to reel spacer 26 extending outwardly in parallel relation on opposite sides of the midpoint of reel spacer 26. The flanges 30 are each provided with corresponding bolt holes 32. A hitch bolt 33 is inserted through holes 32 as best seen in FIG. 2. Hitch assembly flanges 30 are also provided with locking notch 34 cut in their upper surfaces as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6. A latch surface 35 is formed between flanges 30 and the respective plates 25 and 27, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0034] A squared “U”-shaped lifting handle 36 has each end fixedly connected to a respective free end of right reel arm 22 and left reel arm 24 in a direction that is an extension of the reel arms, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. In a similar fashion, a squared “U”-shaped lifting handle 38 has each end fixedly connected to a respective right reel arm 22 and left reel arm 24 to extend in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to lifting handle 36. These lifting handles aid a user in positioning the towline reel assembly 10 for use and for providing a protective shield for the installed assembly.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, coaxially aligned shaft holes 39 are drilled through each reel arm adjacent their free ends for receiving an axle when mounting reel assembly 14 into frame subassembly 12.

[0036] A conventional crank 40 is removably attached to left reel arm 24 as well as lifting handle 36 adjacent the left reel arm as shown in FIG. 6. Crank 40 has a bent handle 42 at one end and a conventional socket 44 at the other end. A crank handle holder 46, which in a preferred embodiment is a short section of square tubing, is welded to lifting handle 36. An end of handle 42 is inserted in holder 46 when the crank 40 is to be stored. A crank clip 48 is welded to left reel arm 24 and has a cotter pin 50 that is inserted into corresponding holes (not shown) provided in the crank clip 48. The crank 40 is inserted into clip 48 and the cotter pin 50 installed to hold the crank in a stored position. When the use of crank 40 is required, the crank can be easily removed from the holding fittings by removing cotter pin 50.

[0037] Reel subassembly 14 is shown in FIGS. 7-14. Reel subassembly 14 includes opposite circular plates 62, spaced apart in substantially parallel relation as shown in FIG. 8. A winding hub 64 extends between circular plates 62 and is fixedly connected to both plates. Hub 64 has a hollow cylindrically-shaped construction. A cylindrical shaft bearing 65 is keyed to and is inserted through holes (not shown) located at the center of each circular plate 62 and extends slightly beyond each plate. Circular plates 62 also have aligned notches 63 cut in the circumference of each plate as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0038] Reel subassembly 14 is mounted to the frame subassembly 12 by inserting a shaft 66 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 11) through shaft holes 39, provided in reel arms 22 and 24, and also through shaft bearing 65, shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 12, shaft 66 includes a transverse bore 68 and a second transverse bore 70 spaced apart from bore 68 at a distance greater than the distance between reel arms 22 and 24. Bore 70 is aligned with a bore (not shown) in shaft bearing 65 of reel subassembly. A pin (not shown) is inserted through these aligned bores to lock shaft 66 to reel subassembly 14. With shaft 66 positioned within bearing 65, the bore 68 is located outside reel arm 22. A pin 71 is inserted through bore 68 to secure the shaft within reel assembly 14.

[0039] Shaft 66 is also provided with a pair of opposing lugs 72, as shown in FIG. 12. Socket 44 of crank 40 is sized to fit over shaft 66 and lock onto lugs 72 so as to turn shaft 66 manually when the crank 40 is rotated.

[0040] A conventional cable 78, shown in FIGS. 11 and 14, is fastened around hub 64 and held in place by using a conventional cable lock 80. Cable 78 is then wound around hub 64 as shown in FIG. 11. At the free end of cable 78, a hook 82, as shown in FIG. 14, is installed to assist in connecting the cable 78 to a vehicle to be towed, for example.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 11, a cylindrical cable cover 74 is positioned to surround the cable windings on hub 64. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a slit 76 extends completely across cable cover 74. In a preferred embodiment, cable cover 74 is made of very strong, but flexible material such as fiberglass, which will not be deformed when cable strain is placed onto the cable cover.

[0042] Cable 78 has its free end extending through slit 76 in cable cover 74, as shown in FIG. 11.

[0043] A rotating reel locking subassembly 16 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 15-17. Rotating reel locking subassembly 16 has spaced apart arms 90 and 91 extending substantially parallel with each other as shown in FIG. 16. A spanning arm 92 extends between the two arms 90 and 91 and is fixedly connected to each as by welding. Axially aligned holes 94 are cut through respective arms 90 and 91 as best seen in FIGS. 17 and 18. Holes 94 receive locking bolts 37 for mounting subassembly 16 to frame subassembly 12, as shown in FIG. 1. A handle 95 is mounted in perpendicular relation to spanning arm 92 as shown in FIG. 16.

[0044] A bar 98 is mounted to spanning arm 92 with a pair of bolts 100 extending through a pair of oversized holes (not shown) provided in bar 98. The head end of bolts 100 are welded to spanning arm 92. The shank of bolts 100 are inserted through the holes in bar 98. Nuts 99 are threaded onto the ends of bolts 100. With this structure, bar 98 is free to move slightly relative to spanning arm 92.

[0045] Whenever rotating reel locking subassembly 16 is mounted on frame subassembly 12, bar 98 can be manually inserted into aligned notches 63 cut in each circular plate 62 of reel subassembly 14. When this is done, circular plates 62 can not rotate further.

[0046] Rotating reel locking subassembly 16 further includes a notched latch-arm 101 pivotally mounted on arm 90 with bolt 93 as shown in FIG. 18. Latch-arm 101 is provided with notches 102 as shown in FIG. 18. Notches 102 are sized to receive lock pin 23, shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 on frame subassembly 12. A tension spring 104 is provided having one end connected to arm 90 and an opposite end connected to latch-arm 101, as shown in FIG. 18. Spring 104 provides a bias force on latch-arm 101 for holding the latch-arm 101 in engagement with lock pin 23.

[0047] Trailer hitch subassembly 18 and reel latch subassembly 20 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 19-21. Trailer hitch subassembly 18 includes a first male trailer hitch tube 120 sized to fit in a conventional Class III receiver hitch and a second male hitch tube 122. First male hitch tube 120 includes a transverse bore 124 drilled through it adjacent one end as shown in FIG. 19 for receiving a conventional locking pin (not shown).

[0048] Male hitch tubes 120 and 122 are connected together with plates 126 which have one end fixedly connected to hitch 122 as by welding on opposite sides of the hitch as shown in FIG. 19. A bolt 130 is inserted through a transverse bore (not shown) in plates 126 and first hitch tube 120 as shown in FIG. 19. With this arrangement, hitch tube 120 is permitted to rotate about bolt 130 relative to hitch 122. A pin 132, as shown in FIG. 19, is inserted through a transverse bore (not shown) in plates 126 and hitch tube 120 at a position offset from bolt 130. This pin functions as a stop to prevent rotation of hitch tube 120 about bolt 130. In a preferred embodiment, a cotter pin 131 is inserted through a hole provided in pin 132 to prevent unintentional removal of pin 132.

[0049] The trailer hitch subassembly 18 is connected to frame assembly 12 with the hitch bolt 33 inserted through bolt holes 32 provided in hitch assembly flanges 30 on frame subassembly 12 and also hole 134 provided in hitch tube 122, as shown in FIG. 19. Hitch subassembly 18 is permitted to rotate about bolt 33 relative to frame assembly 12.

[0050] A stop lug 128 is welded to an edge of one of the plates 126 as shown in FIGS. 19 and 21. As frame subassembly 12 is rotated about hitch bolt 32, stop lug 128 will engage hitch assembly flanges 30 to prevent frame subassembly 12 from dropping further when the frame subassembly is rotated downward about hitch bolt 33.

[0051] Reel latch subassembly 20 is also shown in FIGS. 19-21. Reel latch subassembly 20 includes spaced apart arms 140 extending in a parallel direction on opposite sides of hitch tube 122 as best seen in FIG. 20. A latch arm 142 is welded to arms 140, as shown in FIG. 20. A handle 144 is fixedly connected to latch arm 142, as shown in FIG. 20. Latch arm 142 is sized to fit into notches 34 and 35 in hitch assembly flanges 30 on frame subassembly 12.

[0052] Arms 140 are provided with axially aligned holes (not shown) for receiving a bolt 146 to mount the latch subassembly 20 to hitch 122 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21.

[0053] A spring stop lug 148 is welded to a side of hitch 122, as shown in FIG. 20. A compressed coiled spring 150, shown in FIG. 22, has a body portion 155 coiled around bolt 146, as shown in FIG. 20. Spring 150 has one end 151 pushing against an arm 140 and the other end 153 pushing against spring stop lug 148. This tends to bias latch 142 into a locking engagement with notch 34 or 35 when latch 142 is positioned over either of these two notches. With this structure, reel subassembly 14 may be rotated upwardly and latch 142 inserted into the notch 35 to hold the reel subassembly in an upward out-of-the-way position. Latch 142 is held in this notch by the biasing action of coiled spring 150.

[0054] In operation, when towline reel assembly 10 is to be used to pull an object behind a vehicle, latch 142 is removed from notch 35 and reel subassembly 14 is rotated until latch 142 may be inserted in notch 34.

[0055] To set up for pulling an object behind a vehicle, rotating reel locking subassembly 16 is released from notches 63 in circular plates 62 so that cable 78 can be pulled from the reel subassembly 14. Hook 82 is used to connect cable 78 to the object or cable 78 may be wrapped around the object and the cable hooked back onto itself by using hook 82. Crank 40 is removed from its holder and socket 14 inserted onto lugs 72 on shaft 66. The reel subassembly 14 is then rotated with crank 40 to rewind the excess cable 78 removed when the cable was pulled from reel subassembly 14. This excess cable is wound around the outside of cable cover 74 which cable cover will then be between the portions of cable 78 remaining on winding cylinder 64 and the excess cable which has been wound on the outside of the cable cover. When most of the slack in cable 78 is taken up in this manner, the reel subassembly 14 can then be locked into position by inserting bar 98 into notches 63.

[0056] The vehicle can then be driven forward pulling the object behind the vehicle without more cable being removed from reel subassembly 14. If the strain on the cable is anticipated to be off the centerline of the vehicle by very much, pin 132 can be removed to allow reel subassembly 14 to align itself in a direction so that cable 78 extends in a direction straight back toward the object. The vehicle can then be driven forward dragging the object behind. The cable cover 74 prevents the cable 78 wound on the cover from pinching into the cable wound on hub 64.

[0057] There are three orientations in which the reel assembly can be positioned. The first upright transporting position is when the latch 142 is inserted in notch 35. The second pulling position is when the latch 142 is inserted in notch 34. The third tailgate access position is when the latch 142 drops below and out of notch 34.

[0058] While the fundamental novel features of the invention have been shown and described, it should be understood that various substitutions, modifications and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations are included in the scope of the invention as described by the following claims: 

I claim:
 1. A towline reel assembly to be removably connected to a receiver mounted to a towing vehicle comprising: a rotatable reel having a hub and an axle with a longitudinal axis; towline cable wound on the hub of the reel; a tubular hitch to be removably connected to the receiver of the towing vehicle; means for pivotally mounting the reel to the tubular hitch for pivotal movement of the reel with respect to the tubular hitch in a vertical plane; and latch means for latching the reel at a selected pivotal position.
 2. The towline reel according to claim 1 further including a locking means for locking the reel at a selected rotated position.
 3. The towline reel according to claim 1 wherein the tubular hitch is divided into two members and the two members aligned coaxially and connected together with an elongate plate having one end fixedly secured to one member and the other end pivotally secured to the other member to allow pivotal movement of the two members with respect to one another in a horizontal plane.
 4. The towline reel according to claim 1 further including a pair of squared “U”-shaped hand-hold members positioned in an orthogonal relation each spanning across and spaced apart from the reel with the free ends of each member attached on either side of the reel to the means for mounting the reel to the tubular hitch.
 5. A towline reel assembly to be removably connected to a receiver mounted to a towing vehicle comprising: a rotatable reel having a hub and an axle with a longitudinal axis; towline cable wound on the hub of the reel; a tubular hitch to be removably connected to the receiver of the towing vehicle; means for connecting the axle of the reel to the tubular hitch; a cylindrically-shaped hollow cable cover positioned to enclose the cable wound on the hub of the reel; the cable cover having a longitudinal axis positioned to run parallel to the longitudinal axis of the axle of the reel and the cable cover having a slit extending through the cable cover and positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable cover; and the towline cable having a free end extending through the slit.
 6. A towline reel assembly according to claim 5 further including a hand crank for manually rotating the axle of the reel. 